Dear Iya,: PARC GüELL : LOVE IT OR HATE IT

I loved it, he hated it. I adore Antoni Gaudi's whimsical structures, his vibrant colors, and his unconventional use of his natural surroundings. Parc Güell is no ordinary park. Parc Güell encouraged my imagination to run free.

The brown gingerbread exterior and white vanilla frosting rooftop of the guesthouses greeting us as we entered Parc Güell reminding me of one of my favorite childhood plays Hansel and Gretel. As we slowly walked past the Hansel and Gretel inspired guesthouses my eye caught a glimpse of the giant tiled green, blue and yellow dragon stretching along the middle of the grand staircase leading to the main terrace of Parc Güell. Like an excited child I slide my way through the hordes of tourists, school children, and street vendors to get a closer view of the tiled dragon that so many people were fighting to take a single solo shot in front of (mission impossible).

I closed my eyes placed my hand at the mouth of the dragon allowing the cool water to run throw my hand and imaged what it would have been like in 1914 as a young member of Gaudi's family living in Parc Güell. As I fantasized about the past and marveled at Gaudi's architectural genius my travel companion was unmoved. He was unimpressed by Gaudi architecture. He found it juvenile and unappealing. Just as I was ready to explore more, he was ready to leave.

I dragged my unwilling travel companion to the top of the staircase revealing a breathtaking panoramic view of Barcelona clear to the shimmering emerald blue Mediterranean Sea. I turned to him searching for a sign of "Awww". There was none. I walked around, absorbing Gaudi's wonderful architectural surprises at each turn. As I drifted away from the crowd I could heard someone playing the xylophone from one of the enclaves off the main terrace. I followed the sound until I found its source. That moment listening to the musician play the xylophone in Parc Güell felt magical.